Spinning tongs



J. B. PALMER SPINNING TONGS May 27, 1930.

Filed Aug. 9, 192

\NVENTOR Joy/v B. PflL/vm. y I

Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT? oFFlcs JOHN B. PALMER, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA srnmm G TONGS, v Q

Application filed August 9, 1929. Serial No. 884,687.

This invention relates to a spinning tongs 'by means of which pipe, casing or the like may be screwed together prior to placing the same into a well. This invention-is particug larly applicable to oil wells in which it is very desirable to-quickly'screw the pipe together so that a minimum time is. lost in running the pipe into the well.

An object of my invention is to provide an 10 effective spinning tongs which will grip the pipe and rapidly rotate the same so as to screw the upper stand upon the stand already inserted into the hole.

Another object of invention is to provide a 15 spinning tong of the character stated m which the pipe can be quickly and easily laced through a gate which opens the entire ront portion of the tongs.

Other objects, advantages and features of 20 invention may appear frpm the accompany? ing drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal 26 sectional view of my tongs.

Figure 2 is a plan viewvof the driving gear and ratchet with parts broken away. Figure 3 is a fra entary sectional view taken on line 33 Figurel.

Fi re 4 is a perspective view of one of the c ain links.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the main body of the tongs which consists of a heavy cast- 35 ing with a cover plate 2 secured to the top thereof. A jaw 3 is hingedly mounted to the body 1 adjacent the outer end thereof, and

a gate 4 is hingedly secured to the jaw. 3, and

is removably latched to the body by a suitable 4o latch 5. The body 1 is provided with a pipe receiving recess 6, which recess is adapted to be closed so as to retain the pipe by means of the gate' l; After the pipehas been placed in'the tongs, it is then necessary to rapidly 4 rotate the pipe so as to screw it upon the next lower stand, and this is accomplished by the following mechanism.

A rack 7 is slidably mounted in a groove 8 1n the body 1. The rack is moved in the groove by means of a hydraulic cylinder 9, 5o 4 the piston 10 of which is connected to the rack by a pitman 11. Fluid is introduced into the cylinder 9 through ducts 12-13, which ducts extend through the body 1 to the cylinder and the flow therethrough is controlled 55 by a hand valve (not shown) It will be seen that with the arrangement of ducts, the piston 10 is ositively moved back and forth in the cylin er.

The rack 7 meshes with a gear 14, which 00 gear is ]ournaled upon a shaft 15 secured in the body 1 of the tongs. A driving gear 16 is also 10111I1fll8d upon the shaft 15 and the gears 1416 are rotated together by means of a clutch or spring dog coupling 17. That is, 05 the gear 16 rotates with the gear 14 when the rack? moves towards the outer end of the body. 1. As the rack returns, the dogs 17 are released and the gear 16 will be stationary while the gear 14 continues to rotate.

A reduction gear 18 is secured to a shaft 19, which shaft is journaled in the body 1. A sprocket 20 is secured to the shaft 19 below the gear 18. A second sprocket 21 is journaled in the body 1 adjacent the outer end 75 thereof, and'elose to the latch 5. A 'third sprocket 22 is journaled in the jaw. 3 adjacent the outer end thereof. A chain 23 encircles the 'sprockets 202122 and this chain passes through run-ways 24 in-the body 80 1 and 25 in the jaw 3. The chain 23 is caused to curve around the recess 6 in the body so as to conform to the shape of the pipe, and a track or groove 26, arcuate in shape, is provided so that the chain will make the proper so curve to properly engage the pipe.

A plurality of toothed or serrated lugs 27 are provided on the chain 23 for the purpose of engaging and gripping the pipe so as to rotate the pipe. The pipe 28 is held in 00 the tongs against the chain 23 by the gate 4 and jaw 3, as shown in Figure 1. Rollers 29 are provided on the gate 4 so that there will be less frictional resistance to the rotation of the pipe.

The operation of my invention will be evident from the forego ng; description.

' oted to the jaw and latched to the body,said

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A spinning tongs comprising a body, a pair of sprockets mounted in the body, a jaw pivotally secured to the body, said bodyhav; ing a pipe receiving recess therein, a gate 'pivgate closing said pipe receiving recess, a third sprocket mounted in the jaw, a chain encircling all of said sprockets, so that thethird sprocket may loop said chain about the work in the recess pipe engaging means on the chain and a drivin means engaging one of said sprockets where y the chain is rotated to spin the pipe.

gears ,a third kets, said t ird gear meshing with said body, a gear meshing with the rack, a second gear below the first named gear, uni-directional clutch means between both of said ear secured to one of said sproc second gear, a hydraulic cylinder in the body,'a piston in the c linder and a piston rod extending from the piston to'the rack whereby the rack is reciprocated.

. In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature. JOHN B. PALMER.

2. A spinning tongs comprising a body, a

pair of sprockets mounted in the body, a j aWk pivotally secured to the body, said body having a pipe receiving recess therein, a gate pivoted to the jaw and latched to the body, said gate closing said pipe receiving recess, a third sprocket mounted in the jaw, a chain encircling all of said'sprockets, so that the third sprocket may loop said chain about the work in the recess pipe engaging means on the chain and a driving means engaging one of said sprockets whereby the chain is rotated to spin the pipe, said driving means comprismg a rack, gear means between said rack and sprocket and means to reciprocate said rack.

3. A spinning tongs comprising a body, a.

in the recess pipe engaging means on the chain, a .rack slidably mounted in the body,

gears mounted in the body and extending from said rack to one of said sprockets whereby said sprocket is rotated to actuate the same and a hydraulic cylinder in the body, a piston in the cylinder and a piston rod extending from the piston to the rack whereby the rack is reciprocated.

4:. A spinning tongs comprising a body, a

pair of sprockets mounted in the body, a jaw pivotally secured to the body, said body having a pipe receiving recess therein, a gate pivoted to the jaw and latched to the body, said gate closing said pipe receiving recess, a third sprocket mounted in the jaw, a chain encircling all of said sprockets so that the third sprocket may loop said chain about the work in the recess, pipe engaging means on the chain, a rack slidably mounted in the 

